AGENDA-21 AND SEA-BASED POLLUTION - OPPORTUNITY OR APATHY

The paper re-examines the views expressed by Nollkaemper in a paper pu blished in Marine Policy in November 1993 concerning Agenda 21 and the prevention of sea-based marine pollution, at the same time as providi ng an up-to-date account of what has subsequently transpired under the auspicies of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to impleme nt the outcome of the Rio Earth Summit held in June 1992. The paper co ntrasts Nollkaemper's predictions as to issues that might be expected to receive attention in the context of Agenda 21 with actual developme nts on related issues in IMO over the past five years. Emerging issues covered by the paper Include incorporation by IMO of the precautionar y approach and progress made in implementing IMO's strategy for extra budgetary activities relating to environmentally sustainable developme nt, covering such issues as the provision of waste reception facilitie s in ports and capacity-building for coastal states bordering a shalt used for international navigation. The aim of the latter is to develop self-sustaining financial mechanisms which would effectively transfer the cost to the user of the facility, thus eliminating the difficulti es that many developing countries have in meeting international safety and environmental standards. Until 1995 the author was cc-ordinator o f IMO's follow-up to the Earth Summit as a full-time staff member of t he Organisation's Marine Environment Division. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.